Engine (or generator) powered 'bilge pump'

[wingdiver]

Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

On our last boat, we had a diverter valve (just after the engine intake, before the strainer) which enabled us to evacuate the bilges using the raw water cooling system in the event of a bilge pump failure or in an emergency.

On our present boat, there is nothing like this so I have been considering installing something.

The added 'bonus' is that I have a generator permanently installed on this boat and could easily adapt the water intake for this too (or instead).

I guess all the usual worries about impellers burning out if the pump is run dry apply equally to both set ups so it would probably be a good idea not to use the engine intake.

Any thoughts about the pros and cons of this?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

Might be better to avoid using the engine cooling system as part of your pump-out route, and fit a built-for-purpose engine-driven pump like these

 

[SteveC99]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

On my last boat I had a Renault Couache diesel which had a two impeller water pump. One for engine and one for bilges. There was a tufnol plate between the impellers with a bleed hole to prevent the perminently running bilge pump from going dry. Maybe this type of pump is still available.

 

[Norman_E]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

If you have a generator why not buy a mains submersible pump? It will shift far more water per minute than an engine impeller. Something like this is what I have in mind, though you can get bigger ones this will move a lot of water, and cope with small debris.

 

[pappaecho]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

Had a Wortham Blake Ford Cortina Marinised engine, with the same system as you had. It worked fine, and went via an industrial filter which had a screw off sidearm, into which was put a nylon panscrubber, which appeared to catch everything by the way of input from both the boat and the sea. As the boat was wood, it was much quicker to pump the bilges dry with the engine, rather than reduce the charge in the single battery with a bilge pump. It also pumped at about 3 times the rate. No problems with the raw water impellor, which I think was changed 3 times in 9 years... all as a matter of routine, rather than damage etc.

 

[roly_voya]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

Would second that, I have a mains pump designed for empying swimming pools ets which will shifts several thousand L/h they cost a fraction of the price of a similar volume fixed pump and can be moved to wherever you need it. Mostly it gets used to empty the dingy after a few days heavy rain. The other plus is that if it blocks you just lift it up, quick shake and drop it back in. In an emergency the hose would go out of a hatch or down a cockpit drain. The other advantage is that it will run of the inverter so you do not need to start the geny immediatly this means you can get a pump going quickly even if the water is high enough to worry about it getting sucked into an engine intake which could be a problem if it is over the floorboards before you deiscover you have a leak. Can also recomend the Rule 800012v pumps which shift massive amounts though a 3 inch port - I can take the log impellor compleatly out and the pump has no problem keeping up with what comes in.

 

[wingdiver]

Re: Engine (or generator) powered \'bilge pump\'

Thanks all for the input. I hadn't thought of going down the 240V route. Probably lack of time with a genny onboard!

Cheers